¹ to bear something = to carry a burden.
² Der Teufel seine Kreise um sie zog: this is a German saying which means the devil is close, nearby.

One of my friends sent me this tidbit regarding the biblical reference to this song:

"Aufreißen means to tear or rip open. What we have here is a direct biblical allusion: The cry of the prophet: "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down" (Isaiah 64:1) which is then fulfilled at the Baptism of Jesus: Jesus "saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him" (Mark 1:10). The meaning of this word in the context of Jesus' baptism is that now the heavens have been ripped apart in such a way that it can never be sown back up....God is on the loose!"

Very, very interesting! Thank you!

"Rip apart" or "tear apart" for "aufreissen" also works in this context.